In November, Brandi Cochran was awarded $777,000 in actual damages after suing the show for alleged harassment during her pregnancy, claiming she was taunted on set with names like "wide load," and was denied work after her maternity leave ended. The following day, the jury followed up by tacking on an additional $7.7 million in punitive damages, bringing the total up to $8.5 million.

In his ruling, Judge Kevin Brazile said that he hadn't properly instructed the jury. Cochran's attorney, Carney Shegerian, now hopes for an increase in damages in the new trial. "I think on re-trial, I'll get triple or quadruple that," he said.